WONDERFUL WHALYS: The Perfect Tool for Coastal Heroes: How a Whaly Boat is Cleaning South Devon’s Shores

20 March 2025

At Tonto Marine, we love celebrating vessels that prove boats aren’t just for recreation—they’re tools for positive change. That’s why we’re thrilled to spotlight the incredible work of Till The Coast Is Clear and their remarkable Whaly boat.

A Mission That Matters

Till The Coast Is Clear has taken on an ambitious challenge: cleaning South Devon’s stunning but increasingly threatened coastline. From Torbay to Salcombe, these coastal heroes are tackling marine litter, plastic pollution, and debris that threatens our beautiful waters and the wildlife that depends on them.

But here’s the thing about coastline cleanup—it’s brutal work that demands a boat capable of handling conditions that would make most vessel owners wince. Rocky shores, shallow approaches, constant beaching, abrasive materials, and relentless exposure to the elements. The wrong boat becomes a liability rather than an asset.

That’s where their Whaly comes in.

Why Whaly? The Perfect Coastal Cleanup Partner

Drop-Down Bow: Access Where It Matters Most

The most striking feature of the Whaly is its innovative drop-down bow. For Till The Coast Is Clear, this isn’t just convenient—it’s essential. Imagine approaching a rocky cove filled with plastic debris. Traditional boats require careful positioning, precarious transfers, and significant risk. The Whaly? Drop the bow, walk straight onto the rocks or beach, and get to work.

This design transforms cleanup operations from challenging to straightforward. Volunteers can safely access difficult coastline sections, load heavy debris bags without capsizing concerns, and operate efficiently even in less-than-perfect conditions. The bow becomes a proper working platform, not just an entry point.

Indestructible by Design: Work Without Worry

Here’s where the Whaly boat truly shines in cleanup operations. Traditional fibreglass or aluminium boats require constant vigilance around rocks and shallow water. Scratches, gouges, and punctures turn every approach into a stressful calculation. For Till The Coast Is Clear, this would mean spending more time worrying about the boat than focusing on their mission.

Whaly’s 100% recyclable polyethylene construction changes everything. This virtually indestructible material bounces off rocks that would damage conventional boats. Scrape along a rocky shore? No problem. Beach in rough conditions? Absolutely fine. Drag over sharp oyster beds? Bring it on.

The psychological freedom this provides cannot be overstated. Till The Coast Is Clear can focus entirely on cleanup work, pushing into tight spaces and challenging locations without constant anxiety about boat damage. That’s not just convenient—it’s mission-critical.

Easy Beaching: Land Anywhere, Anytime

Coastal cleanup demands frequent beaching. You spot debris, land quickly, collect it, and move to the next location. Traditional boats make this complicated—careful approaches, concerns about hull damage, difficulty refloating, and limited access points.

Whaly boats beach effortlessly. The flat bottom and polyethylene construction mean you can drive straight onto beaches, rocky shores, or mudflats without hesitation. When it’s time to leave, simply push off and go. No winches, no rollers, no drama.

For Till The Coast Is Clear, this capability multiplies their effectiveness. They can tackle multiple sites in a single outing, accessing locations that would be impractical or impossible with conventional boats. More landings mean more coastline cleaned, more debris collected, and more impact delivered.

Easy Cleaning: Mission-Critical Maintenance

After hours of collecting marine debris, fishing nets, plastic bottles, and worse, most boats would require serious cleaning. Fibreglass interiors stain, wood requires careful maintenance, and fabric upholstery absorbs odours and contamination.

Whaly’s polyethylene construction solves this completely. Hose it down, scrub if necessary, and you’re done. No special cleaners, no concern about staining, no complicated maintenance. The material is naturally resistant to the nasty stuff collected during cleanup operations.

This matters enormously for volunteer-based operations. Easy maintenance means less time on boat care and more time on mission work. It also means volunteers aren’t discouraged by messy cleanup—the boat handles it all without complaint.

Massive Interior Volume: Capacity When It Counts

Look at a Whaly from the outside and you might underestimate its capacity. Then you see one loaded with debris bags and realize these boats offer exceptional interior volume. The high sides and efficient hull design create usable space that exceeds boats of similar length.

For Till The Coast Is Clear, this means fewer trips back to disposal points and more efficient operations. Load up with filled bags, pile in found items, and still have room for volunteers and safety equipment. The Whaly’s capacity turns it from a simple transport vessel into a proper working platform.

100% Recyclable: Values That Match the Mission

Here’s the beautiful irony: Till The Coast Is Clear fights plastic pollution using a boat made entirely from recyclable polyethylene. But this isn’t contradiction—it’s perfect alignment. Whaly boats prove that plastic can be part of the solution when used responsibly.

The 100% recyclable construction means these boats have a genuine circular economy story. When a Whaly eventually reaches end-of-life (which takes decades), the entire vessel can be recycled into new products. No landfill, no waste, no compromise.

For an organization focused on environmental protection, this matters. The boat’s values match the mission’s values. The tool reflects the purpose. It’s authenticity at the deepest level.

One Boat, Massive Impact

What strikes us most about Till The Coast Is Clear’s work isn’t just the tons of debris they’ve removed—it’s how the right boat multiplies impact. With a Whaly, they can:

• Access coastline sections other boats can’t reach
• Work safely in conditions that would stop conventional vessels
• Operate efficiently without constant equipment concerns
• Beach repeatedly without damage or worry
• Clean up quickly and get back to work
• Demonstrate environmental values through their choice of vessel

This is what happens when purpose meets perfect equipment. The Whaly doesn’t just enable the mission—it amplifies it.

The Bigger Picture: Boats as Tools for Good

At Tonto Marine, we service incredible engines and sophisticated marine equipment daily. We appreciate performance, reliability, and engineering excellence. But we also recognize that boats serve purposes beyond recreation and commerce.

Till The Coast Is Clear proves that the right vessel in the right hands can make genuine environmental impact. Their Whaly isn’t just transportation—it’s a force multiplier for positive change along our South Devon coastline.

The indestructible construction lets them work fearlessly. The drop-down bow provides crucial access. The easy beaching enables efficiency. The simple maintenance keeps operations running smoothly. And the recyclable construction aligns perfectly with their environmental mission.

Supporting Local Environmental Heroes

We’re incredibly proud that organizations like Till The Coast Is Clear are working to protect South Devon’s stunning waters and coastline that we love. Every piece of debris they remove protects marine life, preserves natural beauty, and improves conditions for everyone who enjoys our local waters.

If you’re interested in supporting their work, visiting coastal cleanup sites, or learning more about their mission, check out their website at tillthecoastisclear.co.uk. They rely on volunteers, donations, and community support to continue their vital work.

And if you’re considering a boat for environmental work, research projects, or any mission requiring tough, reliable, and environmentally conscious equipment, the Whaly deserves serious consideration. Sometimes the most sophisticated solution is also the simplest one.

The Tonto Marine Perspective

We love being a retailer of Whaly boats, we deeply respect what they represent: purpose-built equipment delivering genuine impact. It reminds us why we’re passionate about marine engineering—the right boat, properly maintained and thoughtfully deployed, can change outcomes.

Whether it’s a Mercury V12 powering adventures, a Yanmar diesel providing commercial reliability, or a Whaly enabling environmental cleanup, boats matter. They’re not just machines—they’re enablers of human purpose.

Till The Coast Is Clear chose their Whaly wisely. It’s the perfect tool for their incredible mission. And watching them work demonstrates exactly what one boat, in the right hands, can accomplish.

Here’s to cleaner coastlines, thoughtful boat choices, and organizations that prove one vessel really can make a difference.

Tonto Marine are delighted to showcase environmental initiatives that celebrate the sea throughout South Devon. While we specialize in Mercury, Honda, Tohatsu, and Yanmar engines, we celebrate all vessels that serve our coastal community well. If you’re involved in marine conservation, environmental survey or other coastal project work around Torbay, Dartmouth, or Salcombe, featuring a Mercury, Honda, Tohatsu, Mercruiser, Mercury Diesel, Whaly or Yanmar we’d love to hear your story and share your work and show what a great marine set up can do. Email [email protected]